December 18, 2008

Sound Transit recently published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the East Link light-rail line. The agency now will hold public hearings to discuss the DEIS' findings and solicit public comments until Feb. 25, 2009.

East Link calls for extending light-rail service from downtown Seattle to the city's east side across Interstate 90, with stations serving Mercer Island, south Bellevue, the Bel-Red corridor, and Redmond's Overlake area. The line will connect with the Link light-rail system between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport, which currently is under construction and scheduled to open in 2009.

The DEIS outlines 19 East Link route alternatives with up to 13 stations. The board is expected to identify a preferred alternative next spring; Sound Transit officials expect to complete the final EIS in 2010.

East Link is scheduled to open to downtown Bellevue, Wash., in 2020, with service to Overlake by 2021. The line is expected to serve up to 48,000 passengers daily.